|
Phillip K Dick
|
|
||
|
Genre
|
|||
|
Media
|
Book
|
||
Publisher | Gollancz | ||
ISBN | 978-057507996 | ||
|
Reviewer
|
Gareth
|
Synopsis
Mars is a desolate world. Largely forgotten by Earth, the planet remains helpless in the stranglehold of Arnie Kott, who as boss of the plumber's union has a monopoly over the vital water supply. Arnie Kott is obsessed by the past; the native Bleekmen, poverty-stricken wanderers, can see into the future; while to Manfred, an autistic boy, time apparently stops. When one of the colonists, Norbert Steiner, commits suicide, the repercussions are startling and bizarre.
Review
Always one to wander the boundaries between paranoid fantasy and science fiction, Martian Timeslip is no exception. Jack Bohlen is a repairman on Mars, inhabited by the dredges of society and the remnants of the poorer native population, the Bleekmen. Jack's bored wife is addicted to barbiturates. His father is a ruthless land speculator and Arnie Kott, who has a virtual monopoly on the available water on Mars and who wants to exploit Manfred, an autistic who has untapped paranormal abilities.
Heady stuff, but then one would expect that from Philip K. Dick. Like "Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep" and "Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said", this novel is as much about exploring the inner space of a character as it is exploring "outer space". A lot of the time the exotic locations are secondary to what is happening to the characters and the wonderful amount of neuroses and conditions that are at play. It is interesting, for example, to read Dick's view on autism - and for the early ‘60's autism was virtually mis-understood by most people.
As usual Dick's writing is of the highest quality; you can't help but get caught up in the narrative. It's, in turns, darkly comic, hugely introspective and breathtaking in scope. Read it, you won't be disappointed!
If you enjoy what we provide, please consider making a donation.
